The Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque is being revived in accordance with its original:

Work has begun on the Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque, whose superstructure and wooden sections have been destroyed due to various disasters throughout history. Dating back 100 years from the Great Hagia Sophia Mosque and built in the 5th century, the Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque, also known as the Studios Monastery in the Fatih district of Istanbul, has taken its place in history as the oldest religious structure in Istanbul. The structure, which was used as a church during the Byzantine period, was converted into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul. The structure, which was converted into a mosque by Imrahor Ilyas Bey during the reign of Beyazıt II, has survived many disasters.

The historical mosque, which suffered the greatest damage during the Latin invasion, was also affected by the earthquake of 1894. The entire upper cover and wooden section of the Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque, which was repaired during the reign of Sultan Selim III, collapsed in the early 1900s, first due to fire and then due to rain. With the closure of the dervish lodges and zawiyas in 1925, the Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque was abandoned. When the Hagia Sophia Mosque was converted into a museum in 1934, the historical structure was transferred to the museum. The Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque, which underwent repairs in 1954-1955, remained idle for about 100 years and was transferred to the General Directorate of Foundations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2012. The projects prepared for the restoration of the Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque were accepted by the Preservation Board in 2019.

RESTORATION OF THE HISTORICAL MOSQUE CONTINUES

Within the framework of the approved projects, the restoration works initiated in 2023 are ongoing. Environmental cleaning was carried out in the historical mosque. In order to protect the Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque, which has been open for 100 years due to various problems, the Space Frame System Temporary Roof installation was completed. After the temporary roof is completed, the dervish lodge building will be meticulously dismantled. In addition, while there are columns carrying the upper gallery in the northern section of the historical mosque, those in the southern section have disappeared. The Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque, which will be restored to its original state in the southern section, will be reopened for worship. As the General Directorate of Foundations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, it is aimed to complete the restoration of the Imrahor Ilyas Bey Mosque as soon as possible and open it for worship.